Country music standout Joe Diffie entered the world on this day in 1958. Born into a musically gifted family, Diffie kicked off his stage career at just 4-years-old. Instead of pursuing medical school as he initially intended, he dropped out of Oklahoma’s Cameron University and began working at a foundry. During this time, Diffie took a side gig as a musician, first performing with a gospel group called Higher Purpose and then joining up with a bluegrass band dubbed Special Edition. Special Edition toured the lower United States while Diffie became a well-known demo singer.
After a series personal and professional obstacles, Diffie relocated to Nashville where he worked for the Gibson guitar company before moving on to record demos full-time. Eventually, the Oklahoma native landed a record deal with Epic Records in 1990.
Diffie soon released his debut album A Thousand Winding Roads and his first single “Home” climbed to the top of the charts. During his career, Diffie charted an amazing 35 singles with “The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Third Rock From The Sun,” “Pickup Man,” and “Bigger Than The Beatles” enjoying the most success.
Joe Diffie’s influence is still very obvious in present-day country music. Take Jason Aldean’s “1994” lyrics for example:
1994, Joe Diffie comin’ out the radio
I’m just a country boy with a farmer’s tan
So help me girl I’ll be your Pick-Up Man
How ’bout a night to remember and a fifth of Goose
‘Bout to bust out my honky-tonk attitude
A little feel good you ain’t never felt before
I’m talkin’ 1994
Hey Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie
Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie
Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie
There can never be enough Joe Diffie references. Personally, my extensive country music playlist closes out with Diffie’s “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)” off of his 1993 Honky Tonk Attitude album. Yep.
Enjoy this “Pickup Man” throwback music video…
Happy Birthday, Mr. Diffie!
